1. Real-life rat behavior is mentioned now and again in Rats. How accurate is Zindel's portrayal of rat behavior?

2. What are Norwegian rats? Where are they to be found? Why would people be afraid of them?

3. What is the situation for rats in New York City? Where in the city are they to be found? What problems do they create? Do they do anything beneficial to the city? How successful have efforts been to control them?

4. From Zindel's description of the area along the Hudson River, locate where Sarah and Michael's home should be.

Draw a map showing where their house, their aunt's house, and New York City are in relation to each other.

360 Rats 5. How polluted is the Hudson River area near New York City? Who or what is doing the polluting? What are the pollutants?